Progress Texas Institute is a left-of-center advocacy group. It conducts research and publishes communications on healthcare laws, climate regulation, gun control, voting access, and LGBT issues. ¹ Progress Texas Institute is the charitable arm of the lobbying group Progress Texas, which promotes Democratic candidates and positions. ²

While nominally nonpartisan, the group’s leadership has ties to the Democratic Party. Executive director Kathleen Thompson was a Texas Democratic Party State Executive Committee member and communications director for the Dallas County Democratic Party, ³ and other board members have ran as Democratic candidates in local and state elections. ^{4 5}

The group is financed by left-of-center philanthropic foundations, including the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and the Ford Foundation. ⁶

Financials

Progress Texas Institute had total revenues of $952,190 and total expenses of $966,595 with $559,820 in total assets in 2021. ⁷ It received over $600,000 from the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, over $100,000 from the Ford Foundation, and $18,380 from Schwab Charitable Fund since 2018. ⁸

Progress Texas and Progress Texas Institute transfer cash payments to one another. ⁹

Background

Progress Texas Institute was founded in 2011 in Austin, Texas. It is the research and communications arm of Progress Texas, a social welfare group aiming to turn Texas into a Democratic-controlled state. The group promotes left-of-center positions on state and federal issues such as gun control, abortion, voting, and LGBT issues. ¹⁰ It grew to become an online media project with 200,000 followers across all social media platforms. ¹¹ The Progress Texas Daily Dispatch is the group’s weekly podcast. ¹²

The group was developed by Ed Espinoza, executive director from 2013 to 2022.

Espinoza is a political analyst and media personality from Austin, Texas. He worked for CNN, KVUE News and Spectrum News. His political career included more than 50 political campaigns in 15 states, including being a Superdelegate for Barack Obama. From 2009 to 2011, he was the Western States Director at the Democratic National Committee (DNC). ¹³

From 2013 to 2022, he developed the nonprofit’s media organization and amplified its outreach. He led a digital newsroom and the group’s public opinion polling. ¹⁴

Advocacy

Progress Texas Institute seeks to change the political landscape in Texas by promoting left-of-center positions on state and national issues like abortion, gun control and redistricting laws. ¹⁵

Gun Control

After the 2018 Santa Fe mass shooting, the group attacked Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R). ¹⁶ In 2023, Democratic State Senator Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) was on the Progress Texas Daily Dispatch podcast to discuss gun control measures. ¹⁷ The podcast has featured other gun control activists including Nicole Golden, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, and Liz Hanks, Texas chapter lead for Moms Demand Action. ¹⁸

Redistricting

In 2021, former executive director Ed Espinoza called Texas’ state legislative districts “disproportionate” compared to the state’s population. ¹⁹ The group has launched a media campaign in which they mock the state’s district shapes. Progress Texas Institute created GoVoteTexas, an online voter guide for Texas residents. ²⁰ The site is sponsored by organizations such as Planned Parenthood  and Workers Defense Project. ²¹

Social Issues

The group promotes left-of-center positions on abortion access and gender transition. ²² Former Texas State Senator and senior advisor for Planned Parenthood Wendy Davis was featured on the group’s podcast. ²³ One year after the Dobbs Supreme Court decision, executive director Kathleen Thompson affirmed her opposition to the ruling in a public statement: “The United States Supreme Court took away our constitutional right to abortion. We won’t stop fighting, because then, today, and tomorrow, we stand with the majority of Texans who know abortion is a human right.” ²⁴

Leadership

As of 2023, Progress Texas Institute is led by Kathleen Thompson, Sara Stapleton-Barrera, Joi Chevalier, Amber Davis, Yvonne Massey Davis, and Dick Lavine. ²⁵ Thompson, Stapleton-Barrera, and Chevalier have direct ties to the Democratic Party.

Thompson became executive director in 2022, replacing Ed Espinoza. ²⁶ She was the Communications Director of the Dallas County Democratic Party, the State Democratic Executive Committeewoman for Senate District 12, and the Texas Field Organizer for Living Liberally, ²⁷ a left-of-center social group. She is the founder of the Grapevine Veterans Day Parade and a member of the Grapevine Garden Club executive board. ^{28 29}

Barrera ran for Texas State Senate District 27 as a Democratic candidate in 2022. ³⁰ She was endorsed by Texas Equity PAC, the largest statewide group dedicated to promoting LGBT rights. ³¹

Chevalier was the Democratic candidate for Comptroller of Public Accounts in 2018. She lost that election to incumbent Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R). ³²

1. “Homepage.” Progress Texas, August 24, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/.
2. “About Us.” Progress Texas. https://progresstexas.org/about-us.
3. Progress Texas, and Progress Texas. “Progress Texas’ New Executive Director!” Progress Texas, May 15, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-new-executive-director
4. Reyes, Dayna, Mario Muñoz and Steve Taylor, Patricia Martinez, and Steve Taylor. “Video: Stapleton Barrera: Why I Am Running for State Senate District 27.” Rio Grande Guardian, July 7, 2023. https://riograndeguardian.com/video-stapleton-barrera-why-i-am-running-for-state-senate-district-27/.
5. Walters, Edgar. “Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Democratic Challenger Joi Chevalier on Why They Deserve Your Vote.” The Texas Tribune, October 25, 2018. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/25/texas-comptroller-glenn-hegar-democrat-joi-chevalier/.
6. Higgins, Eoin. “Progress Texas Looks to the Future after a 2020 That Fell Short of Expectations.” Blue Tent, January 14, 2021. https://bluetent.us/articles/organizing/progress-texas-looks-to-the-future-after-a-2020-that-fell-sh/.
7. “Guidestar.” Progress Texas Institute 990 Form (2021). https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2021/611/639/2021-611639490-202233199349327543-9.pdf?_gl=1*1grjlju*_ga*NTc5Nzc4MDU3LjE2OTEyNjM2NjA.*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY5MzE4MjM1MC4xNC4xLjE2OTMxODMyNzkuNTcuMC4w.
8. “Progress Texas Institute.” Progress Texas Institute – GuideStar Profile. 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/61-1639490.
9. “Guidestar.” Progress Texas Institute 990 Form (2021). https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2021/611/639/2021-611639490-202233199349327543-9.pdf?_gl=1*1grjlju*_ga*NTc5Nzc4MDU3LjE2OTEyNjM2NjA.*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTY5MzE4MjM1MC4xNC4xLjE2OTMxODMyNzkuNTcuMC4w.
10.  “News.” Progress Texas, August 18, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/news.
11. Progress Texas. “2022 Accountability Manual.” Annual Report, August 5, 2022. https://progresstexas.org/sites/default/files/2022-12/PT_2022_AnnualReport.pdf.
12. “Podcast.” Podcast | Progress Texas, August 18, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/tags/podcast.
13. “Political Analyst: Ed Espinoza.” Ed Espinoza Politics. https://www.edespinoza.com/.
14. “Political Analyst: Ed Espinoza.” Ed Espinoza Politics. https://www.edespinoza.com/.
15. Report | Progress Texas. https://progresstexas.org/sites/default/files/2022-12/PT_2022_AnnualReport.pdf.
16. Bonner, Charlie, and Charlie Bonner. “Governor’s School Shooting Prevention Plan Misses the Mark.” Progress Texas, October 19, 2018. https://progresstexas.org/blog/governor%E2%80%99s-school-shooting-prevention-plan-misses-mark.
17. “EP. 109 – One Year after Uvalde, Little Has Changed – with Sen. Roland Gutierrez.” Ep. 109 – One Year After Uvalde, Little Has Changed – with Sen. Roland Gutierrez | Progress Texas. https://progresstexas.org/podcast/ep-109-one-year-after-uvalde-little-has-changed-sen-roland-gutierrez.
18. “Happy Hour 124: Liz Hanks, Moms Demand Action Chapter Lead of the Year!” Happy Hour 124: Liz Hanks, Moms Demand Action Chapter Lead of the Year! | Progress Texas. https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-124-liz-hanks-moms-demand-action-chapter-lead-year.
19. “Redistricting Dilutes Minority Power.” Progress Texas, October 22, 2021. https://progresstexas.org/racist-redistricting-dilutes-minority-power.
20. “Go Vote Texas.” Go Vote Texas. https://govotetexas.org/.
21. “Go Vote Texas.” Go Vote Texas. https://govotetexas.org/.
22. Adkison, Michael. “Texas Lawmakers Float Policies on Abortion-Inducing Medications.” KEYE, January 6, 2023. https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-lawmakers-float-policies-on-abortion-inducing-medications.
23. “EP. 97 – Standing up for Reproductive Rights with Wendy Davis and Austin Kaplan.” Ep. 97 – Standing Up For Reproductive Rights with Wendy Davis and Austin Kaplan | Progress Texas. https://progresstexas.org/podcast/ep-97-standing-reproductive-rights-wendy-davis-and-austin-kaplan.
24. Progress Texas, and Progress Texas. “Statement: Our Fight for Abortion Rights Continues.” Progress Texas, June 24, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/statement-our-fight-abortion-rights-continues.
25. “About Us.” Progress Texas. https://progresstexas.org/about-us.
26. Progress Texas, and Progress Texas. “Progress Texas’ New Executive Director!” Progress Texas, May 15, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-new-executive-director.
27.  “Livingliberally.” LivingLiberally. https://livingliberally.org/.
28. Hamilton, Reeve. “Term Limits Crusade Unites Unlikely Allies.” The Texas Tribune, May 24, 2013. https://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/24/crusade-term-limits-brings-together-unlikely-allie/ .
29. Progress Texas, and Progress Texas. “Progress Texas’ New Executive Director!” Progress Texas, May 15, 2023. https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-new-executive-director.
30. Reyes, Dayna, Mario Muñoz and Steve Taylor, Patricia Martinez, and Steve Taylor. “Video: Stapleton Barrera: Why I Am Running for State Senate District 27.” Rio Grande Guardian, July 7, 2023. https://riograndeguardian.com/video-stapleton-barrera-why-i-am-running-for-state-senate-district-27/ .
31.  “Sara Stapleton Barrera Archives – Equality Texas.” equalitytexas.org. https://www.equalitytexas.org/tag/sara-stapleton-barrera/.
32. Walters, Edgar. “Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Democratic Challenger Joi Chevalier on Why They Deserve Your Vote.” The Texas Tribune, October 25, 2018. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/25/texas-comptroller-glenn-hegar-democrat-joi-chevalier/.